When your home has been selected for energy improvements, it’s natural to worry about who will be paying for the work. If you’ve not arranged or requested the work yourself, do you have to pay?
If your home has been selected for improvements, the work will not cost you anything.
Who pays for the improvements?
These upgrades are funded through government schemes. If your home has been selected for retrofit upgrades, funding is arranged through your housing provider, landlord or local council.
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Do residents have to pay for the work?
When the Government funds retrofit improvements, you won’t have to pay for the installation. However, you will need to meet the following criteria to get the upgrades for free, including:
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EPC rating of D or below.
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High energy bills.
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Your home produces higher-than-average carbon emissions based on its current energy use.
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Your home is at risk of damp or condensation, which can affect health.
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You have certain health conditions.
If you have been contacted about retrofit work, you will have already been assessed as eligible. You will not be charged for the installation.
How can the improvements reduce my energy bills?
Retrofit upgrades can lead to savings of hundreds of pounds per year on your bills. Energy upgrades can help your home keep heat in better and use less energy overall.
When you factor in renewable technology like heat pumps and solar panels, your bills can become lower as you won’t be buying energy from the grid.
Whether you receive one improvement or several, each one is designed to help your home use less energy and cost less to run.
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Will my rent change because of the work?
Your rent should not be impacted by the retrofit installations. That’s because the energy improvement work is designed to improve your home, not increase the price.
Many funding schemes require landlords to agree that they cannot raise the rent as a result of improvements.
This does not mean you won’t have a yearly rent review. But you shouldn’t be penalised for work that has been carried out with huge rent increases.
If you are eligible for retrofit upgrades, they shouldn’t cost you anything. You’ll just benefit from cheaper energy and a warmer home.
Need help or have questions?
If you have a question or concern, speak to your tenant liaison officer or contact your housing provider directly using the details on any letters you have received about the retrofit work.